March 1, 2016
Release # 20160301-01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SOUTHWEST ASIA — On Feb. 29, coalition military forces continued
to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. In Syria, coalition military
forces conducted 12 strikes using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted
aircraft against ISIL targets. Additionally in Iraq, coalition military forces
conducted 15 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq
using attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets.
The following is a summary of the strikes conducted against ISIL since the last
press release:
Syria
* Near Al Hasakah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed five
ISIL buildings.
* Near Al Hawl, three strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and
destroyed three ISIL vehicles and two ISIL buildings.
* Near Ayn Isa, three strikes destroyed an ISIL building, an ISIL vehicle, and
an ISIL mortar system.
* Near Manbij, two strikes destroyed an ISIL vehicle borne improvised explosive
device (VBIED) and an ISIL mortar system.
* Near Mar'a, three strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and
destroyed three ISIL fighting positions.
Iraq
* Near Fallujah, four strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and
destroyed an ISIL anti-air artillery piece, an ISIL building, an ISIL bunker,
an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL staging area, and denied ISIL access to terrain.
* Near Habbaniyah, one strike destroyed an ISIL vehicle.
* Near Mosul, two strikes destroyed an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL fighting position,
and damaged a separate ISIL vehicle.
* Near Ramadi, three strikes destroyed an ISIL tactical vehicle, two ISIL
tunnel systems, and two ISIL VBIEDs.
* Near Sinjar, one strike destroyed an ISIL fighting position and suppressed an
ISIL mortar position.
* Near Sultan Abdallah, one strike destroyed an ISIL fighting position and
suppressed an ISIL mortar position.
* Near Tal Afar, one strike suppressed an ISIL mortar position.
* Near Tikrit, two strikes destroyed an ISIL vehicle and two ISIL mortar
positions.
Strike assessments are based on initial reports. All aircraft returned to base
safely.
A strike, as defined in the CJTF releases, means one or more kinetic events
that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single,
sometimes cumulative effect for that location. So having a single aircraft
deliver a single weapon against a lone ISIL vehicle is one strike, but so is
multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against a group of buildings and
vehicles and weapon systems in a compound, for example, having the cumulative
effect of making that facility (or facilities) harder or impossible to use.
Accordingly, CJTF-OIR does not report the number or type of aircraft employed
in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of
individual munition impact points against a target.
The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation
to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria,
and the wider international community.
The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the group's
ability to project terror and conduct operations. Coalition nations which have
conducted strikes in Iraq include Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France,
Jordan, Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Coalition
nations which have conducted strikes in Syria include Australia, Bahrain,
Canada, France, Jordan, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab
Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The Netherlands began strikes in Syria Feb. 15 this year. Due to administrative
oversight, they were not previously listed on the strike release.